The Lipscomb Lady Bisons (2-7, 0-1 A-Sun) continue to seek their first Atlantic Sun Conference win Saturday evening against Kennesaw State (3-4, 0-1 A-Sun). Game time is 4 p.m. CST at the Convocation Center in Kennesaw, Ga.

Lipscomb lost its A-Sun opener Thursday evening at Mercer 69-59. Junior Jenna Bartsokas led Lipscomb with 19 points and five assists. Freshman Hannah Phillips had 10 points, two off her career high, and four assists.

Kennesaw State lost 68-44 to Belmont Thursday evening. Angie Smith led the Owls with 16 points. Sametria Gideon had 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Kennesaw shot 25.8 percent overall and 15.8 percent from the 3-point line.

Lipscomb has lost six of its seven matchups with Kennesaw State. Last year Kennesaw won 66-64 in Allen Arena on Jan. 22 and 88-78 in the Convocation Center on Feb. 21. This is the fifth meeting between the teams in the Convocation Center.

Quick Hits

This is the seventh straight game away from Allen Arena for the Lady Bisons. Lipscomb returns home Tuesday night against Evansville to start a six game homestand.

Bartsokas averages 16.7 points in three career games against Kennesaw State

Clair Waggener returned from an injury that kept her out in seven of Lipscomb’s first eight games to play 11 minutes off the bench against Mercer.

Lipscomb has turned the ball over fewer times than its opponents in five of its eight games. Lipscomb accomplished this only six times last season.

Lipscomb has lost 11 consecutive road game dating back to a 76-66 victory at Belmont on Jan. 12, 2009. Lipscomb is 5-54 in road games over the last five seasons.

Lipscomb is 0-7 when giving up 61 or more points. Lipscomb gives up 52.5 points in wins and 70.0 points in losses.

Lipscomb is struggling on the defensive boards bringing down 209 defensive boards (23.2 per game) while giving up 141 offensive boards (15.7 per game).

Last Time Out

After falling behind by as many as 16 points in the second half the Lipscomb University Lady Bisons battled back against the Mercer Bears to close the deficit to one point but the they were not able to complete the comeback and fell 69-59 Thursday evening in the University Center.

Lipscomb opened the game hitting seven of its first 12 attempts from the field and took a 16-6 lead just under eight minutes into the game.

The Lady Bisons strong shooting hand cooled as Lipscomb missed 15 of their next 16 attempts.

Mercer went on a 25-2 run from the 13:11 mark until Leah McAlister made a layup with 1:07 left in the half. Mercer took a 31-20 lead into halftime.

Mercer extended its lead to 16 points, 36-30, three minutes into the second half.

The Lady Bisons did not give up and fought back into the game. Lipscomb responded with an 11-3 run capped by a 3-pointer by Jenna Bartsokas with 15:05 left.

After Mercer built its lead back to up to 12 points, Bartsokas led Lipscomb on a 7-0 running hitting a 3-pointer and two free throws to make it a 45-40 game at the 12:11 mark.

Mercer’s Lacy Ramon had a conventional three-point play and Courtney Ford made a layup to extend Mercer’s lead back to 10.

Lipscomb steadily closed the margin to one point, 56-55, following a 3-pointer by Hannah Phillips and a jumper by Anna Bowers two possessions later.

The Lady Bisons did not score on their next three possessions and Mercer regained an eight point lead with 2:43 left on a 7-0 run.

The Lady Bisons made one final stab at the lead with two free throws by Hannah Phillips and a layup by Brittany Duerk.

Lipscomb was forced to foul and Mercer connected on all six free throws in the final minute to secure its victory.

Bartsokas led Lipscomb with 19 points and five assists.

Lipscomb held a 40-37 advantage on the boards. Brittany Duerk had a team-high eight boards.